Primoz Roglic is one of the top favorites. © ANSA / GEORGI LICOVSKI

“Grande Partenza” in Albania: The Giro d'Italia begins

This weekend, the 108th edition of the Giro d'Italia begins with three stages in Albania for the first time.

08 May 2025

From: dpa

More than 3440 kilometers spread over 21 stages await the professional cyclists starting Friday. The "Grande Partenza" begins in the western Albanian coastal town of Durres. During the traditional final stage in the Italian capital Rome on June 1, the athletes will ride through the Vatican for the first time in memory of the late Pope Francis.

Big stars like reigning champion Tadej Pogacar, his Danish rival Jonas Vingegaard, and Belgian double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel are staying away from the Tour of Italy to prepare for the Tour de France in July. Primoz Roglic of the Red Bull team and Pogacar's Spanish teammate Juan Ayuso are among the favorites.

The first two weeks of the three-week tour will be largely flat, with the sprinters expected to be the ones to shine. The mountain challenges will only begin in the third week. There is no South Tyrol stage on the schedule this year.